A Powerful Martial Artist Reincarnates as a Nun Knight

The streets of Ravenna were divided into two areas: the Holy City of Ravenna where the Church headquarters resided, and the Royal City of Ravenna housing Rotaringhia’s Iron Throne.

Originally, these two Ravenna districts did not adjoin each other. During the Great War waged under the Great Ascetic’s banner, both were merely neighboring rural villages.

But as the Church’s central headquarters arose in the western Larsba region while Rotaringhia’s Iron Throne established itself eastward in Vennatoria, the two townships gradually expanded until merging into the singular Ravenna appellation.

The Royal City’s eastern streets exuded palpable tension. The conflict between the southern Rotaringhian nobility loyal to King Edoardo Luigi di Napoli, the northern nobles supporting Crown Prince Edoardo Lamberto di Rotaringhia, and the Ravenna gentry alongside allied cities backing the king’s favored 7th Prince Bernardo Berengarino di Veneto had long festered.

Even casual carriage encounters prompted dismissive scoffing between coachmen, while street corners witnessed frequent skirmishes between the factions’ hired thugs. Illegal duels constantly erupted amidst this lawless environment where no legitimate authority could intervene and adjudicate.

And this Royal City strife now threatened to spill over into the adjacent Holy City.

Bam!
“Insufferable rabble! If they wish to squabble over succession, let them do so amongst themselves – how dare they thrust their political machinations upon us clergy following the sacred light? Do they think us so idle as to entangle ourselves in such worldly power struggles?”

Chancellor Alessandro Borromeo, a cardinal, slammed his fist upon the desk in exasperation.

The Church’s ordained mission spanned the entire continent – safeguarding human civilization and territories against demonic forces and monsters. So frankly, it lacked the capacity to involve itself in a mere kingdom’s line of succession disputes.

Yet it seemed the Rotaringhian nobility assumed the Church shared their fates simply due to the Holy City’s proximity to the Royal City – an utterly vexing presumption for the chancellor overseeing Church affairs.

“Do they not comprehend the implications of the Church interfering in secular monarchical succession? Why insist on coopting the unwilling into power-sharing arrangements?”

Unable to fathom the aristocracy’s mentality, the aged chancellor could only scratch his head in aggravated bewilderment.

“Furthermore, continuously signaling us thus will inevitably provoke voices advocating acquiescence from within our ranks.”

Indeed, some believed acquiring political influence over Rotaringhia’s secular authorities could facilitate the Church’s missions and obligations. By not excluding secular powers, they argued, the Church’s duties could proceed more smoothly.

Well, the chancellor could understand their perspectives to some extent. When dealing with rulers content to squander exorbitant taxes on warfare and power struggles while utterly neglecting proper governance, periodic urges to intervene directly seemed almost inevitable.

“But do they not realize arbitrarily involving ourselves in political affairs would transform the Church into a mere political faction?”

The Church reaped considerable benefits by maintaining secular non-interference across most circumstances. Presenting themselves as a religious order solely dedicated to human welfare and spiritual solace enabled circumventing most secular rulers’ obstructions to pursue their objectives unimpeded.

Even when inevitable situations arose requiring Church figures (typically monk or nun knights) to denounce nobility, this non-secular power paradigm proved immensely useful – as with the Vrhümät incident, where instead of secular rulers’ suspicion, the Church garnered cooperation by demonstrating no intent to usurp their authorities, simultaneously securing their gratitude.

Had the Church openly operated as a political faction, such fortunate outcomes would have been unattainable – lacking the manpower and resources to sustain that posture.

As the exasperated chancellor clicked his tongue ruminating thus, a knock sounded at his office door. Taking a calming breath, he called out:
“Enter.”

Admitted by his permission, a young priest handling the administrative bureau’s miscellaneous affairs entered.

“Your Eminence.”
“Dispense with unnecessary formalities and proceed directly.”
“The individuals you mentioned have arrived in Ravenna.”
“Ah, excellent timing!”

A radiant smile brightened the chancellor’s face, securing a pretext to rebuff the aristocracy’s grating solicitations.

“Things will grow busier from here. We have no reason to entangle ourselves in the Royal City’s turmoil. Come, let us greet them. I am curious to assess these prodigies Cardinal Andrea boasted of.”

Offering some indiscernible justification, Cardinal Alessandro rose while retrieving his leaning staff. Yet despite using it, his vigorous gait rendered the staff more ornamental accessory than supportive crutch.

As he prepared to depart the chancery building, several idle priests hastily adjusted their vestments to follow.

Surveying the clerics’ solemn, impeccable appearances with satisfied approval, the cardinal opened the doors and announced:
“Very well, let us proceed.”
With a flourish of his sleeves, the cardinal’s clerical retinue exited the chancery.

+++++

Sophia’s party, having just entered the city, similarly discerned Ravenna’s tense atmosphere. Having previously visited years prior, Sophia, Hildegard and Ezio furrowed their brows in displeasure upon rejoining its streets.

“Our second visit, yet this place remains rather unsettling.”

“Its condition seems to have deteriorated further since our last time here.”
Ezio voiced his agreement with Hildegard’s unambiguous discomfort. Sophia clicked her tongue in distaste:
“Tch, what is this so-called Throne that it causes such utter abandonments of decorum and order?”

As the rest of the party unanimously shared this sentiment apart from herself, the youth Conra, guiding their horses alongside Sophia, inquired:
“Master, what about this city prompts such disquiet from everyone?”

Reaching over to ruffle her disciple’s head, Sophia explained:
“Observe our surroundings carefully. Compared to the street sizes and buildings, do the number of stalls seem unusually sparse? And the pedestrian traffic?”

Following Sophia’s advice, Conra finally noticed the anomalies. Stalls were not merely sparse but virtually non-existent apart from the operating shopfronts.

“The Royal City’s security is practically non-existent at this point. Those absent stalls have likely relocated to the Holy City’s streets instead.”
“And these remaining open shops probably wish to sell their properties and relocate to the Holy City as well, if I had to guess.”
Hildegard appended Sophia’s assessment. Only then could Conra sense the ominous, ferocious undercurrents pervading the deserted Royal City streets.

Sophia’s words proved accurate as they transitioned from the Royal City into the Holy City district.
Contrary to Conra’s expectations of solemn sanctity, the Holy City streets buzzed with an orderly array of designated street stalls amid throngs of pedestrians – an atmosphere of vibrant, chaotic liveliness he unexpectedly found peaceful and reassuring.

Of course, this commotion gradually subsided as they progressed beyond the commercial districts into the true Holy City’s tranquil ecclesiastic precincts housing various Church edifices – jurisdictional headquarters alongside chapels for worship and contemplation.

Suddenly, upon entering these hallowed precincts, Sophia’s party noticed a cluster of clerics approaching from ahead. Recognizing the lead figure’s identity with her keen eyesight, Sophia promptly dismounted to greet them, prompting Hildegard, Ezio and Conra to follow suit upon grasping her intentions.

As the clerical party neared, Sophia’s group knelt unanimously in a gesture of reverence.

“We greet you, Lord Chancellor.”

Representing the party, Sophia offered obeisance – prompting Cardinal Alessandro to wave dismissively:
“Enough with such petty formalities. Such deference seems excessive towards this aging cleric. I have simply come to meet you all, not receive such grandiloquent greetings.”
“Then we shall comply accordingly.”

While openly defiant and dismissive towards Cardinal Andrea, even Sophia could not extend such effrontery to Cardinal Alessandro – one of the precious few she genuinely respected.

Though directly facing him for the first time, Sophia was well-acquainted with Cardinal Alessandro’s character and deeds, having even witnessed him from afar on previous occasions.

To her companions unfamiliar with Sophia’s profound reverence, the dignitary prompting such uncharacteristic deference from her naturally provoked bewilderment over his identity.